Apparatus for depositing material under water



Jame 36 11936. E, LE R. HARRINGTON APPARATUS FOR DEPOSITING MATERIAL ,UNDER WATER ,Filed Feb. 21, 19 34 Sheets-Sheet 1 lNVENT OR BY 5 ATTORNEYS June 30,3936. E. LE R. HARRINGTON APPARATUS FOR DEPOSITING MATERIAL UNDER WATER 5 Sheets- 5me INVENTOR Wpf if Q ATTORNEYS Filed Feb. 21, 1934 June E. LE R. HARRINGTON 2,046,120

APPARATUS FOR DEPOSITING MATERIAL UNDER WATER Fiied Feb. 21, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 IIIIIII,I/IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII/IIIIIIIIM \\\\\\\VIIIIII/ I a; @VENTOR WRNEY$ Patented June 30, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR DEPOSITING MATERIAL UNDER WATER Application February 21, 1934, Serial No. 712,281

9 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in apparatus for depositing material, such as concrete, under water.

One of the primary objects of my invention is to provide an apparatus of the character described, which will deposit the concrete under water with a minimum of mixing of the concrete with the water in which it is deposited.

Another object is the provision of an apparatus of the character referred to, which will protect the concrete from the water in which it is deposited while the concrete is being deposited therein.

A further object is the provision of apparatus of the character referred to, which will permit the water which is displaced by the concrete to escape without being entrapped by any parts of the apparatus.

A further object is the provision of apparatus of the character described which will deposit the concrete in such manner that there will be very little running of the concrete after it has been deposited.

A further specific object is the provision of a concrete bucket proper, surrounded by a shroud so arranged that relative vertical movement between the bucket and shroud will effect operation of the closure means on the bucket whereby the closure means may be conveniently opened beneath the water A further specific object is the provision of such a bucket and shroud so arranged that when the apparatus is set down with the closure means open, such closure means will be automatically closed without coming into contact with the floor on which the apparatus is set, and will be held completely closed and off the floor.

How I obtain the foregoing, together with such other objects and advantages as may appear hereinafter, will appear from the following description, taken in connection with the drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a central vertical section through the apparatus as a whole, with the bucket member in open position.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation partly in section, showing the bucket in closed position.

Fig. 3 is an end view partly in section, with the bucket in closed position.

Fig. 4 shows the suspension means for the bucket and shroud, with the locking mechanism holding the shroud in upper position.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4, showing the locking mechanism in released position.

Fig. 6 is a section taken on line 6--6 of Fig. 2.

The apparatus as a whole comprises a rectangular bucket I having an open bottom, a pair of doors 8 forming closure means for said opening, a shroud 9, which surrounds the lower portion of the bucket l, and suspension means, indicated as a Whole by the reference letter A, for the bucket and shroud.

The bucket 1 is the concrete container proper. It is somewhat larger at the bottom than at the top, so that the concrete will always run freely out of the bottom. The closure means for the open bottom consists of the two doors 88 (see Fig. 1) which are hinged adjacent one edge by means of hinges I0, to opposite sides of the bucket I. When these doors are closed, they will occupy a substantially horizontal position, as will best be seen in Figs. 2 and 3, and as the bucket is dumped, the doors will gradually assume the vertical position illustrated in Fig. l.

The shroud 9, which is open at the top and at the bottom, completely surrounds the lower part of the bucket I and the doors 8 when the doors are in closed position, as is shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The end walls I I of the shroud are spaced further from the wall of the bucket than are the sides I2. The sides I2 are generally triangularly shaped and extend well up to the top of the bucket when the bucket is in closed position. The end walls II do not extend up so far as the sides I2. The upper edge of the end walls I I is well above the bottom of the bucket when it is in closed position, but when the bucket 'I is in raised position (see Fig. 1) the bottom of the bucket is substantially above the upper edge of the wall II. The shroud is reinforced at the lower edge by angle members I3, and angle members I4 at the top of the wall II. The side walls I2 of the shroud are provided with arcuate slots I5 for a purpose to be hereinafter stated.

The suspension means, indicated generally by the letter A, comprises two spaced horizontal channel members I6I6, to which vertical angle members I! are secured by means of gusset plates I8. These vertical angle members I! extend down on opposite sides of the bucket I, to which they are rigidly secured. The angle members H are also spaced apart so that the projecting angle portions provide a guide co-operating with angle members I9 which are secured to the inner face of the sides I2 of the shroud.

A pair of locking members 20 are pivoted between the two channel members I6 by means of pivots 2| mounted in the channel members I6. These locking members are generally triangular in shape, with the pivot 2I at one apex of the triangle. another'apex of the triangle there is pivoted a clevis 22, andtoeach clevis 22, a chain 23 is attached. These chains 23 are secured to a ring 24 and the lifting line 34 for the apparatus as a whole is attached to this ring. The chains 23, lifting line 34, and ring 24, to which they are connected, may be considered as the lifting members. The third apex of the locking member is provided with a hook 25. The locks 20, as a whole, turn on the pivots 2| and when there is slack in the lifting line 34, Will drop down between the ends of the two channel members 16. Stops. 35

limit turning movement of the locks 20 in the other direction. v

Each. side l2 of the shroud is provided with a latch 26 which engages the hook of the lock'20 to support the shroud while the apparatus is be:-

ing placed in position. This latch 26 is carriedby pin 21 which is mounted in the butt 28 which in. turn is carried by the plate 29. This plate 29 is secured to the upper-ends of the angle members IS on the sides l2 of the shroud.

The latch 26 is Weighted so that it will fall away the bucket 1 may, Within certain limits, be raised and-lowered independently of the shroud.

The door operating mechanism comprises the arms 30 which are pivoted at their upper ends adjacent the top of the sides l2 of the shroud.

The pivot pins 3|, about which the upper ends of arms 30 turn, are carried at one end by the side 12 of the'shroud and at the'other end by an offset plate 32, the upper part of which is likewise secured to the side l2 of the shroud.

The lower ends of the arms 30 engage pins'33 which are carried by the doors 8. By virtue of this arrangement, it will be seen that relative vertical movement between the shroud 9, to which the upper ends ofthe arms 3!! are secured, and the bucket'l, to the doors 8 of which the lower ends of the arms, are attached, will cause the arms 30 to open and close the doors. The pins 33 project through the arcuate slots l5, hereinbefore referred to, so that the arms 30 may be located on the outside of the shroud and not comeinto contact with the concrete at any time, thus eliminating the possibility of jamming of the mechas nism by stones; f

' The operation is as: follows:-

The bucket l is placed beneath the discharge outlet of a concrete mixer with the doors in closed position as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and is filled with concrete. Thelifting line 34 of a crane'is then attached to ring 24 and before lifting, an

operator engages the latches 26'with the hooks 25 of locks 20, as shown in Fig. 4. When the hoist has been operated to take the slack out of the lifting line 34 and chains 23, this engagement will belocked and the shroud and bucket will be lifted together. The doors 8 will be held closed by the arms 30. V

The apparatus is then lowered through the water until it comes to rest on the bottom. If

the bottom consists of concrete already in place,

the sides of the shroud will sink in until the doors 8 rest upon the concrete firmly enough to'sustain' the weight. 7 a

Further lowering of the lifting line will slacken chains 23 and the locks 20 will then drop to the position shown in Fig, 5 and release. the latches 26 which will drop away from the hooks 25. The hoist is then operated to tighten the lifting line 34 and the bucket l is gradually raised within the shroud while the shroud remains stationary.

With the shroud remaining stationary, the arms 30 will tend to hold the doors against the raising of the bucket, with the result that the doors will swing down and out on their hinges as the bucket is raised, with their movement proportioned tothe movement of the bucket.

As the doors are opened they will maintain contact with the concrete previously placed, and slide out between that and the'concrete being deposited, without causing any great disturbance 1 or mixing of the concrete with the'water. The. water which'mustbe displaced by the concrete being deposited will .be behind the doors 8 as they open and will flow out freely through the a open top of the shroud, and the doors 8 will protect the concrete leaving. the bucket from contact with this. water. 7 .7

The sides I 2 of the shroudwill prevent any substantial inflow of water at the ends of the doors 8,,as the concrete is being deposited. 2

From the foregoing it will be seen that the concrete ,inthe bucket is deposited on top of the concrete in placewithout dropping through water between thebottom of the bucket and the already placed'concrete. The concrete also. displaces the 3 water in the shroud without substantial mixing therewith and spreads, out in theshroud to assume a position approximating its natural angle ofrest so that when the shroud is lifted there will be very little running of the concrete down 3 the sides of the pile beneath the water.

It will be seen that there will be no entrapment of the water by any of the parts of the, apparatus, as the water is always free to escape upward between the shroud and bucket as it is displaced bythe depositing concrete. When the concrete has been deposited; the. bucket is again raised and the pins 33 will engage the sides I2 of the shroud at the ends of the arouate slots l5 and lift the shroud, pulling it out of the concrete all around its edge without thereby causing'any great disturbance or mingling of the concretewith the water.

When the apparatus is then lifted from the is again set down.

-When the apparatus isilowered tothefloorupon 4 whichit is to be set, the shroud first comes to rest thereon, and further lowering of the lifting line- Will permit the bucket to move downward with respect to, the shroud. During this movement of the bucket, the arms 30 will operate to close the doorsp8. By reason of the fact that the shroud extends below the bottom of the bucket, thesedoors can be completely closed without 6 coming into contact withthe floor upon which the apparatusis set, so that the setting of the apparatus uponthe fioorwill in itself close the doors. 7,

Assuming that the bucket is suspended in air 6 in'thejposition shown in Figure 1 and is set down on a floor to receive concrete; when the bottom' edges of the shroud l3 rest upon the floor, continued lowering of the bucket proper will carry the door hinges down until they occupy the posi- 7 tions, shown in Figure 2.. 'As the doors; are also pivoted at 3,3tofthe links 30; which in' tu-rn are pivoted at 31 the doors will close during the lowering process. and assume the'position shown, inFigurezZ. t

In other words, whenever the bucket, having been opened, is set down on a substantially level floor, the shroud touches first, and after the shroud has come to rest, the further lowering of the bucket causes the doors to close completely before the other parts come to rest. The shroud extends sufficiently below the bottom of the bucket to permit the doors to close completely without coming into contact with the floor and to support the bucket proper holding the doors closed and off the floor.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for depositing material under water comprising a common lifting member, a bucket suspended therefrom, and a shroud independently and releasably suspended therefrom whereby the bucket may be raised relative to the shroud when the shroud is released from the common lifting member, bucket closure means and closure operating means connected thereto and to said shroud and operated by relative movement between the bucket and shroud.

2. Apparatus for depositing material under water comprising a common lifting member, a bucket suspended therefrom, and a shroud independently and releasably suspended therefrom whereby the bucket may be raised relative to the shroud when the shroud is released from the common lifting member, bucket closure means comprising a pair of doors hinged to the bucket, and closure operating means holding the doors in closed position when the shroud is suspended from the lifting member and opening the doors when the bucket is raised relative to the shroud.

3. Apparatus for depositing material under water comprising a common lifting member, a bucket suspended therefrom, and a shroud independently and releasably suspended therefrom whereby the bucket may be raised relative to the shroud when the shroud is released from the common lifting member, bucket closure means comprising a. pair of doors hinged to the bucket, and closure operating means comprising arm members pivoted at one end to the shroud and at the other end to the said doors whereby said doors will be opened and closed by relative vertical movement between bucket and shroud.

4. Apparatus for depositing material under water comprising a common lifting member, a bucket suspended therefrom, and a shroud independently and releasably suspended therefrom whereby the bucket may be raised relative to the shroud when the shroud is released from the common lifting member, bucket closure means comprising a pair of doors hinged to the bucket, and closure operating means comprising arm members lying outside of the shroud and having a pivotal connection therewith at one end, the other end of said arms being connected to pins connected to the doors, the said pins projecting through slots in the shroud.

5. Apparatus for depositing material under water comprising a common lifting member, a bucket suspended therefrom, and a shroud independently and releasably suspended therefrom whereby the bucket may be raised relative to the shroud when the shroud is released from the common lifting member, bucket closure means and closure operating means connected thereto and to said shroud and operated by relative movement between the bucket and shroud, and shroud suspending means on the bucket which engage the shroud after the bucket has been raised a predetermined distance.

6. Apparatus for depositing material under water comprising a bucket with hinged bottom door means, a shroud surrounding the lower portion of the bucket, open at the top and vertically movable with respect to the bucket proper, and door operating link means connecting said bucket door means and shroud including pins secured to the door means and means on the shroud engaging said pins whereby the shroud may be lifted when the bucket is lifted and the doors opened a predetermined distance.

7. Apparatus for depositing material under water, comprising a bottom dumping bucket and a shroud surrounding the lower portion of the bucket and capable of limited vertical movement with respect thereto; lifting means permanently attached to the bucket for lifting the same, means for detachably engaging said lifting means to the shroud and means constituting a lost motion connection between the lifting means and the shroud whereby the latter may be lifted after the bucket has been raised a predetermined distance with respect thereto.

8. Apparatus for depositing material under water comprising a bucket and a shroud surrounding same; door means for said bucket bottom, lifting means permanently attached to the bucket for lifting same, detachable means for attaching said lifting means to the shroud when the lifting connection to the bucket proper is slackened, and link mechanism connected to said door means and to said shroud, including a pin adapted to engage the shroud and permitting limited vertical movement between bucket and shroud while the door means are being opened or closed.

9. In a device for transporting material, a bucket proper, hinged bottom door means therefor, a shroud surrounding the bottom portion of the bucket and extending lower than the same, and means constituting a lost motion connection between the bucket and the shroud so as to permit limited vertical movement between them, and door operating means comprising arm members pivotally connected to the door means and to the shroud whereby downward movement of the bucket with respect to the shroud will close the door means.

EDWARD LE ROY HARRINGTON. 

